HandsOnward
Sign InBuild My Roadmap

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

Compare to another career

Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $81,390/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$53,740$126,950

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +6.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.

About 1,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingActive ListeningActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCoordination
Top knowledge areas
GeographyComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageDesignMathematicsCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyEducation and Training
Core tasks

• Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.

• Delineate aerial photographic detail, such as control points, hydrography, topography, and cultural features, using precision stereoplotting apparatus or drafting instruments.

• Prepare and alter trace maps, charts, tables, detailed drawings, and three-dimensional optical models of terrain using stereoscopic plotting and computer graphics equipment.

• Study legal records to establish boundaries of local, national, and international properties.

• Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.

• Revise existing maps and charts, making all necessary corrections and adjustments.

• Identify, scale, and orient geodetic points, elevations, and other planimetric or topographic features, applying standard mathematical formulas.

• Collect information about specific features of the Earth, using aerial photography and other digital remote sensing techniques.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists?

The median pay for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is $81,390 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists?

Employment for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is projected to change +6.4% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.

What education is typically required for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists?

About 1,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.